Ukip rejects Farage’s resignation – what do you think?

Ukip leader Nigel Farage, speaks at the Grand Hotel, in Hartlepool, during a General Election campaign. Picture by Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Published:16:40Monday 11 May 2015

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NIGEL Farage has had his resignation as Ukip leader rejected by the party’s national executive committee and he remains as leader.

Mr Farage announced in the wake of his defeat in South Thanet that he would quit the post, as he had repeatedly promised to do if he failed to enter the Commons.

But Ukip chairman Steve Crowther said the party’s national executive committee (NEC) believed the election campaign had been a “great success” and said members of the committee “unanimously” rejected Mr Farage’s letter of resignation.

Mr Crowther said: “As promised, Nigel Farage tendered his official resignation as leader of Ukip to the NEC. This offer was unanimously rejected by the NEC members, who produced overwhelmingly evidence that the Ukip membership did not want Nigel to go.”

Mr Farage recommended that Suzanne Evans, the deputy chairman, should take over until a contest is held in September.

He left open the prospect of returning to the role by competing in the election after taking the summer off politics.

Mr Crowther’s statement continued: “The NEC also concluded that Ukip’s general election campaign had been a great success.

“We have fought a positive campaign with a very good manifesto and despite relentless, negative attacks and an astonishing last-minute swing to the Conservatives over fear of the SNP, that in these circumstances, four million votes was an extraordinary achievement.

“On that basis, Mr Farage withdrew his resignation and will remain leader of Ukip. In addition, the NEC recognised that the referendum campaign has already begun this week and we need our best team to fight that campaign led by Nigel.

“He has therefore been persuaded by the NEC to withdraw his resignation and remains leader of Ukip.”

Earlier today, Mr Farage took part in a TV debate on the BBC and was interviewed on Sky News, while taking part in VE Day commemorations over the weekend.

Mr Farage insisted repeatedly ahead of and during the general election campaign he had no intention of staying in the leader’s job.

In his autobiography, The Purple Revolution, he wrote: “The consequences of me failing to secure a seat for myself in the Commons would be significant for both myself and the party.